If you have been following my blogs - you will know I have been 'on the road.' Several countries, many cities, hundreds of people all with ideas, thoughts, comments and their view of the world.

Now I have had time to reflect and some thoughts are definately taking shape - most of them I will relate to A4e - but I suppose they could apply to most organisations that try their damndest to do good stuff for other people.

A4e Volunteers

First off - I have seen many many examples of volunteering - I have seen how volunteering is stunningly good for the volunteer - I have seen that volunteering lifts the person - in a way they needed lifting. It is a very personal thing that works for individuals in an individual way. Friendship, sense of purpose, self esteem, social worth, giving and getting - being connected - fun. The army of volunteers I met during my travels impressed me greatly. Prompted by Roy Newey - I began to develop the idea for A4e.

The work we do in A4e is all about social issues - improving people's lives - it occurs to me that we should invite volunteers to help us. Increasing what A4e offers. I mentioned this to one of A4e's wizz thinkers (Clare) and she told me of some examples where we are already doing this. I am trying to think of a company wide way to achieve this - truly welcoming and supporting volunteers across the activities of A4e. Just imagine we could get volunteers from our clients, our customers, the local community, the employers and others. It would also be a great way to find new staff - people who 'get' what we are trying to do for others.

Part Time Working

Next thought - also prompted by Roy - why do we employ most people on full time contracts? Surely there are a lot of people who work at A4e who could be doing family friendly hours (i.e. there for the school drop offs and pick ups and being at home to burn the tea)  - and still fulfill our committment to customers. A4e probably employs people for hours in which they don't really have too much to do - i.e. the end of the day when clients have gone home. ( I have seen this with my own eyes) - controversial I know - but heh? - as always i will always say the stuff that no one else dares to say...

A thought on part time would be to have an amnesty - let people put their hands up - reduce their hours - gain back a bit more 'family' time - and quid pro quo A4e is not paying for hours that cannot be used productively. Anyone brave enough to let me know what they think?  Of course if you have got a whopping mortgage (like me) the thought is terrifying! However I always remember everyone is different - we all have different circumstances and different priorities.  Let me know what you think.  

These two ideas will make A4e more lively and vibrant and more able to do the things it wants to do for people. Sometimes the monies we get from governments is with all the best will in the world close to impossible to stretch to all the things we want to do. Those of you with a financial head will know that some of the things we do actually cost more than we get paid! - obviously we eventually have to remedy this - maybe the two ideas above will help.

Our Friends 

On my travels - I have heard so many different words used by staff, governments and stakeholders to identify the people that A4e works with. I only found one word covered what I wanted to say in all the countries. Friends. 

The word Friends will work around the world - each country, each contract that we work on will have required terms - but A4e should consider that the people we work with are Friends. This will give A4e a common language - and it also reflects the respect and mutual understanding of the relationship we seek with all our Friends.

Just think - we can have new friends, old friends, friends whom we should keep in touch with more often ( follow up on contracts!) and best  friends. Thoughts?

In summary - some big ideas and I know that travel is good - new thinking - new horizons - it always takes a few days and weeks to actually work out what you have learnt.